Theoretical Penning electron-energy distributions for alkali-metal atoms: He(2 /sup 1,3/S) collisions with sodium and potassium

Penning electron-energy distributions are calculated for collisions of He(2 1S) and He(2 3S) with sodium and potassium atoms. The formulation is in terms of quantum-mechanical wave functions, which are determined using previously published complex potentials for the initial states and available experimental or presently calculated Hartree-Fock potential curves for the final state. Sensitivities to these potentials are tested. The mechanisms for the observed energy structure are analyzed, and the effects of experimental finite energy resolution and collisional velocity spread on the structure are shown